George MacDonald's Personal Theology in At the Back of the North Wind

Abstract

Personal belief systems have always influenced the creation of literary works; such theological principles worm their way into stories and depict the author’s convictions. Nineteenth-century author George MacDonald’s children’s fantasy, At the Back of the North Wind, portrays the personal vision regarding faith, the afterlife and the figure of God. This paper explores the importance of George MacDonald’s theology in At the Back of the North Wind, by situating MacDonald’s work in its proper socio-historical context; defining the concept of fantasy as a means of spirituality; describing George MacDonald’s life and faith and its influence on his literature, and by analyzing the influence of MacDonald’s theology on At the Back of the North Wind.